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Reputable backers for an alchemical lab are hard to come by in Rotenek and Antuniet has had no luck, even with the assistance of the Vicomtesse de Cherdillac. But there are other options. The financier Langal is less than respectable, but far from disreputable and at least he was willing to hear her out.

* * *

She reached into her purse and drew out a knotted cloth. Unfastened, it revealed a blood-red carnelian, the only one of the gems worth keeping that was still in her possession. The rest had been lost in the flight from Prague. But if it were true to its nature, it would bring her what she needed. He picked it up between a stubby thumb and forefinger and examined it with the same bland expression as before. She watched for any sign that the stone affected him but as his face still gave nothing away she continued, “In my present situation the work goes slowly and I find myself short of patience. I need a workshop, equipment, supplies and perhaps an assistant or two.”

Langal frowned and dropped the gem back onto the cloth. “The last time someone tried to pay me in alchemical gold it was nothing but gilded copper. He swore it was an instability in the transformation and that it had been pure gold when he gave it to me, but it came to the same thing. I have no interest in being made a fool when I try to sell cut glass and rock crystal. And this—” He nudged the stone where it lay. “Don’t insult me by trying to pass it off as ruby.”